Undergarment.



H. A. CARTER.

UNDERGARMENTJ Patented 00+ 23,1917.

2 SHEETS SHEET 1.

Inventor.- Horace La.

Cut/ricer, f yil g dw M1 H. A. CARTER.

UNDERGARMENT,

APPLICATION FILED mac. I6, 1916.

Patnted Oct. 23,1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

. Invewiwa": Hammoe' a v pair.

HORACE A. CARTER, 0F NEEDI-IAM HEIGHTS, MASSACHUSETTS.

UNDERGARMENT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 23, 1917.

Application filed December 16, 1916. Serial No. 137,436.

In order that the principle of the inventionmay be readily understood, I have disclosed a single embodiment thereof in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a front elevation of a union undergarment embodying my invention,

Fig. 2 is a rear elevation thereof;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to 'Fig. 1, but representing the front upper portion of the garment as open;

ably employed in the undergarment to which my invention peculiarly but not necessarily applies; and v Fig. 5 is a detail showing said gussets as applied to the garment.

In accordance with my invention, I provide an undergarment with one and preferably with two overlapping extensions at the front, havlng numerous advantages herelnafter more fully set forth. This construction is peculiarly applicable to union undergarments in that each size of garment can be readily fitted to a person to whom the nether part of the garment fits regardless of the bust measurement of the'person. It is of frequent occurrence that a union undergarment, the nether portion of which will fit, will not fit the bust measurement. This requires, therefore, the making of union undergarments of different bust measurements for the same nether vmeasurement, and vice versa. 7 V

While in itspreferred embodiment my invention is peculiarly dapted therefore to union undergarments, it. is not restricted thereto.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, I have in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 indicated a union undergarment having a body '1, arms 2-2 and legs 3-3, all preferably integral. The garment maybe of knitted or woven material, but preferably is knitted and preferably the wales run in a vertical direction through the said parts. The garment may be of the drop seat or closed crotch type, or of any other suitable type for men or women. I have herein represented it as of the closed type, and preferably for that purpose I provide two gusset portions respectively indicated at 4, 5 in Figs. 4 and 5, the

gusset 4 being herein designated as the lefthand gusset, because in practice the'greater portion of its perimeter is seamed to the left-hand end of the garment, and the gusset 5 being termed the right-hand gusset since the greater portion of its perimeter is seamed to the right-hand .leg of the garment. If the garment be a knitted one, the knitted wales extend longitudinally of the gussets 4, 5. The

lateral edges 6, 7, 8 and 9 of gussets 4, 5 are preferably out upon curved lines which converge toward each other. Each gusset is shown as having a, square upper end 10, 11, which in the garmentare lapped past each other and secured to the body of the gar- Fig. 4 represents certain gussets preferment at the rear, as indicated in Fig. 2. The edge 7 of the gusset 4 and the edge 8 of the gusset 5 constitute, the free edges of the garment at the rear. The edge 6 of the gusset 4 and the edge 9v of the gusset 5 which, as pre viously described, are preferably out upon curved lines are seamed to the straight edges of the body portion of the garment, thusgiving increased width across the hips and thighs of the wearer.

I preferably provide the gussets 4, 5 with gores numbered respectively 12, 13, 14 and 15. The gore 12 of the left-hand gusset constitutes a thigh widening gore and is attached along both its legs tothe inside seam of the left leg, thus enlarging the diameter of the upper portion of that leg, and the gore 13 ofsaid left gusset constitutes in effect suspensory-forming gore. The vsaid gore 131 iscarried over and attached to the insideright leg, thus enlarging the diameter of the upper portion'of the leg, and the gore 14 constitutes a suspensory-forming gore which is carried across and seamed to the inside seam of the left leg at the upper portion thereof 'just below or at the crotch.

The gores 13, 14 are, in the completed garmend-Superimposed one upon the other. Viewing Figs. 1 and 3, it will be observed that both of the suspensory-forming gores 13, 14 are positioned wholly at one and the.

andgare secured tozthe u-pper edges. of the legs wholly at one side of the said axial crotch line.

In accordance with my invention 1 provide the garment at the front thereof w'ith preferably two flaps or extensions herein indicated'at 16, 17. These flaps or extensions are of such length as to afford protection to the lungs and throatof the user, but are not of sufficient length to cover the abdomen. Thus a double thickness over the abdomen is prevented, while thorough protection of the bronchial tubes and of the lungs is afiorded. The said flaps 16, 17 terminate at substantially the point indicated, and from there to the crotch or throughout-the remainder of the garment is preferably closed, except as some usual toilet opening may be provided at or substantially at toe crotch portion. These flaps are preferably triangular in shape, substantially as shown, and are tapered downward to more or less sharp lower ends. While the said flaps or extensions may be knitted integrally with the body of the garment, they are preferably sewed or otherwise secured thereto, as indicated by the lines 18, 19. This permits the said flaps or extensions to be formed of material differing from that of the body of the garment. For

example, the body of the garment may be made wholly or partially of cotton, and the flaps and extensions may be made OfvlVOOl or silk in such a manner as to afford additionalprotection.

The flaps or extensions 16, 17 serve several important purposes. It is of frequent oc currence that a. union undergarment which otherwise fits is either too snug or too loose atthe. chest portion. By providing an overlapping flap. or preferably overlapping flaps, and particularly by providing adjusting means for securing these flaps, T have provided means whereby a union undergarment will fit at all parts thereof. Any suitable securing means maybe provided for the flaps, but preferably I provide the left-hand side of the garment with a button 20, which may be positioned in any one of a plurality of button holes 21in the corresponding flap or extension 17. The outside of the flap or extension 16 is, in this embodiment of the invention, provided with a button 22, which; may be positioned in any one of a plurality of button holes 23 in the body ofthe garment atthe right of the flap or extension 17. By providing a series of button holes or other adjustable connections, the garment may obviously: be fitted-to persons of differing chest or neck measurement. It not infrequently happensthat the neck measure The upper ends of theisaidi cured'by a bias, woven or bias-cut woven cloth elastically seamedto the garment as disclosed in my Patent No. 1,145,402.

Preferably at the lower portions, the

flaps or extensions 16,17 are transversely seamed and'secured'to the. body portion of' the garment.

Tnasmuch as the garment is preferably provided with twov flaps 16, 17, it is evident that the double thickness provides ample chest and vthroatprotection, and this is .particularly true if'said flaps or extension be of such material as wool irrespective of the material of the body of the fabric.

Even though the garment be a knitted one, it is not essentialthat the flaps 16,. 17 be knitted, as within the scope of'my inven-- tion they may le of woven or other material.. Preferably, however, they are of the same formation as the body of the garment.

The front openingofthe garment extends from the neck opening vertically down the center of the chest, and a substantially triangular fiap is secured along each edge. of

said front opening, said flaps each lapping past the other and terminating at their upper ends substantially below the top of the shoulders, the buttons or other means securing the said flaps at their upper outer-corners to the body of the garment between,

the neck opening and the arm holes and relatively remote from each and also laterally beyond the neck openin Said flaps V are preferably right-triangular in shape,the hypotenuse of each extending downward and inward. Owing to the fact that the opening is positioned as described it is possible to use small pieces for the. flaps which can be taken from the by-product, and otherwise would be sold as scrap or waste.

An undergarment constructed in accord ance with my invention has numerous advantages. Not only does it affordample protection of the bronchial tubes and of the lungs, but a double thickness of'garment,

over the lowerportion of the body is avoid ed,j this being ob ectionable.

ease.

Furthermore the garment is very readily secured by but two buttons for. which maybe substituted, stays, hooks or other suitable fastening. means, andthe garment is one whichgmay be put on and taken off with the greatest 7 Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the It will be evident from the foregoing description that my invention is peculla'rly adpated for use in a union undergarment, though it is not restricted thereto.

Having thus described one illustrative embodiment of my invention, I' desire it to be understood that although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being set forth in the following claims.

Claims:

1. An undergarment having a front opening extending from the neck opening vertically down the center of the chest, and terminating at a point substantially at the lower end of the chest, a substantially triangular chest flap secured along each edge of said front opening, said flaps each lapping past the other and terminating at' their upper ends substantially below the top of the shouldersQand means to secure said flaps at their upper, outer corners to the body of the garment between the neck opening and the arm holes and relatively remote from each.

2. An undergarment having a front opening extending from the neck opening vertically down the center of the chest, a subre a the neck-band and the nearest arm hole and relatively remote from each, and laterally beyond the neck opening.

3. An undergarment having a front opening extending from the neck opening vertically down the center of the chest, a substantially right-triangular chest flap secured along each edge of said front opening with the hypotenuse extending downward and inward, said flaps each lapping past each other and having their upper outer corners terminating between the neck-band and the arm holes and relatively remote from both, and means to secure each of said upper outer corners to the body of the garment laterally beyond and relatively remote from the neck of the wearer.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

. HORACE A. CARTER Commissioner of Batents,

Washington, D. G. 

